I really ought to sometime soon.
"A self-checkout way of life; Stores add aisles, scanners, and phone apps to encourage customers to pay on their own" by Beth Teitell, Globe Staff / January 4, 2011
Retailers say they like self-scanners because they’re cost-cutters that can speed shoppers through the checkout process and allow management to redeploy cashiers to jobs that can’t be done by a machine.
I always go to a person no matter how long I have to wait.
That cashier and bagger -- no matter how much they hate the job -- have a life. I would rather my money go to them rather than through a machine into profits for a food conglomerate.
Although some may think that the self-checkout system is more susceptible to theft, studies show otherwise. Theft deterrents on the self-checkout machines include integrated cameras, scales, security tags, and, in some cases, laser analysis of dimensions of the products, according to Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group.
Meet your New World Order at your supermarket, 'murka!!
“Our studies show [retailers] lose less with Self-Checkout because most front-end theft at stores is due to employee theft or a customer in partnership with an employee,’’ he said in an e-mail....
A recent evening at the Shaw’s supermarket in Dorchester found the self-scanning area in full swing, with the full range of shopper talent on display.
Don't you just love insults with yer news?
See: Shaw's Strike Settled
Maybe it was about more than health costs?
In lane two, Kristin Bezio, 30, a graduate student from Dorchester, was the picture of efficiency, scanning her ground beef, salsa, lettuce, and Chex Mix without issue. “I like to do things myself,’’ she said.
Like almost every other shopper interviewed, she talked about the machines as if they were human, or at least had an agenda....
My heart sinks for humanity when I read something like that.
Nearby, Charlie Gosselin, 15, and Michael O’Neill, 16, sophomores at Boston College High School, were trying without luck to scan a bag of Hostess chocolate frosted doughnuts....
You kids shouldn't be eating that rot!
Here’s another issue facing self-scanners: They don’t have time to relax, if even for just for a few minutes. This can lead to a drop in impulse purchases of M&Ms, a disappointment for stores, perhaps, but a boon to shoppers. One study estimated the average American woman could lose up to 4.1 pounds a year avoiding those last-minute grabs.
As she scanned baking ingredients at the Stop & Shop in Brookline, Beth Segers, 51, said she missed having time to stand in line and “zone out and read cheesy magazines.’’
Yeah, they are right next to the Boston Globe.
--more--"
Also see: Fireworks likely cause of Arkansas bird deaths
Former priest rips church leaders on romance
Lewd videos raise questions about Navy culture
Israeli leader vows to exit government unless peace talks progress
Just looking at the cheesy stories.
Time to shove off, readers.
